TENNIS * CAPE DORY
(Fat Possum Records)
Husband & wife hop on a boat and set sail for 7 months down the Eastern seaboard. Upon their journey's completion, they sit down to write & record their debut LP. Yup, that's the [true] back story. Tennis has achieved a ton of buzz and anticipation surrounding their first full length record, but now that it's finally been released, we can see if any of that aforementioned hype is deserved.
Frankly, I'm still trying to answer that question myself.
All of the songs on Tennis' debut are well put together and charming, but like Best Coast before them, there's no discernible difference from track to track, and that makes me question the passion of the duo. It's true that lo-fi musicianship typically offers little room for variation, but Cape Dory is pleasant enough that you desperately want to see Tennis get to the next level; however, the whole record listens like one long plateau. From the opening "Take Me Somewhere" to the closing "Waterbirds," you definitely feel the vibe Tennis intended. The whole album gives off a certain degree of warmth, something that is welcomely out of place as we are currently nesting in Winter's nether regions.
I can see this being an album that grows on me. Maybe it's because of the season, but I'm just not quite ready for it yet.
Grade: B
Grade: B
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